Trash compaction unit

ABSTRACT

A household compaction unit having a receptacle for collection of trash and a hydraulic ram operated by household water supply to compact said garbage.

United States Patent Longo [451 Apr. 11,1972

[54] TRASH COMPACTION UNIT [56] References Cited [72] Inventor: Joseph F. Longo, New Canaan, Conn. UNITED STATES PATENTS [73] Assignee: International Dynetics Corporation, Nor- 877,139 1/1908 Tatarinoff ..100/269 walk, Conn. 2,916,985 12/1959 Beach ..100/53 3,024,720 3 1962 w 1 11 ..100 53 22 Filed: Dec. 29, 1969 es 3,315,594 4/1967 Simshauser ..100/269 x 8887 3,353,478 11/1967 Hopkins ..100/229x 3,438,321 4/1969 Gladwin 100/229 x 52 US. Cl ..100/229,53/124,92/40, E i J 92/132,100/53,100/266,100/269,100/295, fi g 141/73 [51] lnt.Cl ..B30b 15/06 57 ABSTRACT [58] FieldofSearch ..1o0/53,224, 266, 269, 295;

A household compaction unit having a receptacle for collection of trash and a hydraulic ram operated by household water supply to compact said garbage.

8 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures PATENTEDAPR 11 m2 3, 654, 855

SHEET 1 0F 2 lNVliN'l'OR. Joseph E Longo PATENTEDAPR 1 1 m2 SHEET 2 [IF 2 FIG. 5

FIG.4

INVENTOR.

Joseph E Longo flaw FIG] TRASH COMPACTION UNIT BACKGROUND OF INVENTION The present invention relates to garbage and trash disposal and in particular to apparatus for the compaction of household refuseand garbage.

The disposal of household garbage and refuse has been a problem for many years. The total amount of household waste has increased to such large proportions that the normal facilities for collection and disposal of the same have been severely taxednAutomatic garbage grinding and disposal units attached to the kitchen drain have. also been found to be inadequate for modern uses and inaddition overburden the community sewer and normal liquid wastedisposal systems.

There is therefore a pressing need for simple economical garbage disposal means which reduces the total amount of refuse. It is the object of this invention to help satisfy this need.

In the past few years the compaction of trash and garbage has acquired a considerable following in large institutional I uses. It is the prime object of the. present invention to provide a compaction unit for the compaction of household trash, garbage and refuse.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a small, inexpensive unit forplacement in the kitchen without SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION According to the present invention there is provided a household compaction unit having a receptacle for the collection of garbage, and hydraulic ram operated by the household water supply to compact said garbage.

In the preferred form of the present invention, compaction takesplace without the use of electricity. It is also preferred that compaction is accomplished within,plastic bags which may be then tied and removed conveniently.

Full details of the present invention together with an understanding of the foregoing objects and additional advantages will be seen from the description set forth hereinafter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the description reference is made to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a device embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the device shown in FIG. I with the side panel removed;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the top of the device shown in' FIG. 1 with a portion of the cover removed so as to show the interior plumbing;

FIG. 3a is a view similar to that of FIG. 3 showing the use of automatic valves and electrical controls.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line 44 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4 showing the extension of the hydraulic ram,

FIG. 6 is an enlarged detailed view, partially broken away, taken along lines 66 OfIFIG. 1, and

FIG.7 are perspectiveviews of two additional and FIG. 8 embodiments ofthe present invention.

rectangular cabinet comprising a pair of parallel side panels 10, a .backpanel 12 mounted upon a base 14, and covered -with a top surface '16. The cabinet is of a size and dimension similar to that of other household kitchen appliances and is finished in suitable manner in either porcelain, wood or conventional enamel sheet metal to closely resemble the same.

The cabinet is divided into a lower section 18 and an upper section 20 by a horizontal bulkhead or wall 22. Doors 24 and 26 are each hinged at their bottom to the base 14 and bulkhead 22 respectively and are adapted to swing outwardly, exposing the interior of each section 18 and 20. The lower door 24 is provided with a pair of brackets 27 on which is removably supported a receptacle such as a pail 28 which is likewise provided with a pair of mating brackets 30.

Mounted medially of the transverse dimension of the horizontal wall 22 by suitable fastening means 32 is a hydraulic ram assembly generally indicated by the numeral 34. The hydraulic ram assembly 34 is operated by application of household water and is thus provided with a water inlet pipe 36 provided at its exterior end with a suitable fitting 38 for connection to a household water supply (not shown). The inlet pipe 36 is also provided with a conventional faucet 40 (FIG. 2) by which the flow of fluid is controlled into the ram assembly 34. The hydraulic ram assembly 34 is also provided with an outlet pipe 42 connected to a drain 44 for discharging water to the local sewage system (not shown). A faucet 46 is also provided within the run of the outlet pipe 42 to control the fluid discharged from ram assembly 34. Cross connecting the inlet pipe 36 and the outlet pipe 42 is a relief pipe 48 provided with a pressure valve 50. The inlet pipe is also provided with a one way valve or stop valve 52 to insure unidirectional flow of fluid in the direction shown by the arrows A (inlet) and B (discharge) in FIG. 3. The valves 40 and 42 as well as the relief valve 50 and stop valve 52 are easily accessible through door 26.

As will be further described in detail later herein the lower door 24 and upper door 26 are provided with a mating latch mechanism generally depicted 54 which insures that only one door at a time may be opened. v

Turning now to FIGS. 4 and 5 the ram assembly 34 is a telescoping construction comprising an outer support member 56 and an inner movable piston member 60. The outer member 56 is tubular in form and is provided at its upper end with an outwardly extending flange 60 which is secured by the fastening means 32 to the horizontally extending bulkhead 22. The lower end 60 of the supporting tubular section 56 is pro vided with an inwardly extending flange which is adapted to slidably engage the inner piston member 58. The piston member 58 is also tubular in shape, open at its upper end but closed at its lower or head end 64. The piston member 58 is provided at its upper end 66 with an outwardly turned flange which is adapted to engage the inwardly turned flange 60 of the outer supporting member 56 when the piston is extended downwardly (FIG. 5) to abut against the horizontal bulkhead 22 when retracted (FIG. 4).

Secured within the piston member 58 between the bulkhead 22 and the inner surface of the head end 64 is an expandable bellows 68 comprising a single cylindrical resilient tube 70. The resilient tube 70 is preferably made of high grade rubber material, although other elastic material such as rubber substitutes or plastic material may be used. The elastic tube 70 is molded integrally with a plurality of metallic or other inelastic rings 72 spaced axially along its length. The tube and rings are preferably molded as an integral unit with the elastic tube extended but not stretched. The upper and lower ends of the tube 70 are secured by suitable epoxy resins or other adhesives to the bulkhead 22 and the inner surface of the head end 64 so as to insure a fluid type seal therebetween.

Within the tube 70 itself there is secured a high tension helical spring 74, the upper end of which is fastened to the inner surface of the head end 64 by suitable fastening means. The spring 74 acts to normally bias the piston member 58 upwardly against the horizontal bulkhead 22 and consequently contracts the inner tubular bellows 70 in an accordion like fashion as seen in FIG. 4.

The inlet and outlet pipes 36 and 42 are fitted with suitable nozzle like fittings 76 and 78, respectively, which are located within the diameter of the tubular bellows 70 to thereby allow water to enter and discharge directly therefrom.

The operation of the device will now be apparent. With the discharge faucet 46 closed, the inlet faucet 40 is opened, allowing water to enter the bellows 70 extending the piston member 58 against the bias of the spring 74 until the two flanges 66 and 62 engage. The pressure of the piston 58 as applied to the head end 64 compacts any garbage located in the pail 28. Normal household water pressure ranges between 20-30 lbs. per square inch. Therefore, even at 20 lbs. per square inch, if the ram face were only 6 inches in diameter, then the pressure on the interface between the head end 64 of the piston 58 and the garbage within the pail would be at least 500 lbs. (using the formula Tp=psi(r At such pressure any household garbage will be compacted to at least a third to a fifth of its normal size.

The stop valve 52 prevents the increasing pressure created within the tube 70 from backing the water into the inlet pipe, while the relief valve 50 being preset insures that any excess pressure over a predetermined amount releases the water flow immediately into the drain.

After compaction, the inlet faucet 40 is closed and the outlet faucet 46 is opened. The release of pressure thus effected reduces the force in the bellows so that the spring 74 then causes the inner piston member 58 to move upwardly contracting the bellows 70. As the bellows 70 contracts most of the water is forced out of the bellows 68 through the drainage outlet 44 into the community sewage system. After successive compaction cycles, the receptacle 28 becomes full and can then be emptied by removing it as a whole and disposing of the compacted load.

It is preferred to employ a plastic bag 80 within the receptable 28 and within which the garbage is first placed. After compaction the bag 80 may be tied and used to carry the load in a sanitary, odor free manner. To further insure proper compaction and avoid damage to the receptacle, etc., a resilient block of rubber 82 or other soft plastic material is provided beneath the pail 28. The pail 28 thus can rest on the block 82 which will then act to absorb the pressure of the piston on the garbage within the can.

To prevent operation of the ram when the can is removed, or removal of the can while the ram is being operated, the simple latch mechanism 54 connecting the two doors 24 and 26 is provided. Each door is operated by a handle 86 having a lever 88 extending therefrom within the cabinet 10. Mounted on the inner face of each door and extending laterally from the handle 86 and the lever 88 is a transversely extending rod 90 biased by a spring 92. The rod 90 extends from proximity to the handle 86 to the side of its respective door where it engages within a hold 94 formed in the side thereof. The rod 90 is biased by the spring 92 to be normally engaging the handle and free of the hole 94. Mounted to the cabinet panel is a vertically positioned lever 96 pivoted at its center 98. The lever is provided at each of its ends with a pin 102 extending transversely into the hole 94. Should either of the doors be opened, the handle 86 associated with that door causes the lever 88 to push the associated rod 90 against the bias of the spring 92 into the hole 94 where it then pushes out the associated pin 102 pivoting the lever 98 so that the opposite pin 102 engages within the opposite hole 94 of the other door. Consequently when the door is opened, the other automatically becomes latched in a closed or shut position. As a result, the user of the machine cannot inadvertently open both doors simultaneously and thus damage to the can or hydraulic ram is avoided.

It will be obvious that various modifications and changes can be easily made by those skilled in the present art. Forexample, the type of faucet shown may be replaced by similar devices. The can hangers and can mountings may likewise be modified by the use of conventional equivalent hanger structures. The door latch mechanism may be replaced also by other latching devices. t t

The present apparatus may be made automatic, that IS, can

. cally extending hinge, such as a piano hinge. The receptacle may be supported, not on the door but on a resilient block which is cut out to secure the receptacle from movement. In FIG. 8 the cabinet is provided with a rounded front and a door 112 which is rolled in an arcuate manner back within the cabinet rather than being swung outwardly. ln either case the two units are essentially the same as that described earlier.

It will be observed that a compact, simple household compaction unit is provided by the present invention. Since the present disclosure indicates numerous modifications and changes which can be made, the foregoing description is to be taken only as illustrative of the principle stated.

What is claimed is:

l. A garbage compaction unit comprising a cabinet, a receptacle for receiving garbage therein, a hydraulic ram assembly mounted within said cabinet having piston means movable into and out of said receptacle, conduit means connecting said ram to a source of water and to a drain for said water, and valve means for selectively flowing water into and out of said ram assembly to extend or retract said piston with regard to said receptacle, said hydraulic ram assembly comprises a tubular member having a longitudinal axis and secured at one end to a horizontal wall in said cabinet, a piston member having a head end fully mounted to slide within said tubular member, a bellows expandable along a longitudinal axis, said bellows being mounted coaxially within said piston with one end secured to the inner surface of said head end and the other end secured to said horizontal wall, the water and drain conduits communicating with the interior of said bellows, spring means for normally biasing said piston in closed position, the introduction of water into said bellows expanding said bellows, whereby the movement of said bellows causes extension and retraction of said piston.

2. The unit according to claim 1 wherein said bellows comprises a resilient tubular member having a plurality of inextensible bands axially spaced therealong whereby said tube is constrained from radial expansion.

3. The unit according to claim 2 including fluid tight sealing means connecting the bellows to the piston and to the cabinet.

4. The unit according to claim 1 including means for mounting the receptacle beneath and axially in line with the piston.

5. The unit according to claim 4 including a door for said cabinet, said receptacle being mounted on said door.

6. The unit according to claim 5 wherein said door is hinged to said cabinet to swing outwardly removing said can from said cabinet.

7. The unit according to claim 5 wherein said door slides within said cabinet to expose said receptacle. I

8. The unit according to claim 5 including pressure relief means to control the force of said water within said bellows. 

1. A garbage compaction unit comprising a cabinet, a receptacle for receiving garbage therein, a hydraulic ram assembly mounted within said cabinet having piston means movable into and out of said receptacle, conduit means connecting said ram to a source of water and to a drain for said water, and valve means for selectively flowing water into and out of said ram assembly to extend or retract said piston with regard to said receptacle, said hydraulic ram assembly comprises a tubular member having a longitudinal axis and secured at one end to a horizontal wall in said cabinet, a piston member having a head end fully mounted to slide within said tubular member, a bellows expandable along a longitudinal axis, said bellows being mounted coaxially within said piston with one end secured to the inner surface of said head end and the other end secured to said horizontal wall, the water and drain conduits communicating with the interior of said bellows, spring means for normally biasing said piston in closed position, the introduction of water into said bellows expanding said bellows, whereby the movement of said bellows causes extension and retraction of said piston.
 2. The unit according to claim 1 wherein said bellows comprises a resilient tubular member having a plurality of inextensible bands axially spaced therealong whereby said tube is constrained from radial expansion.
 3. The unit according to claim 2 including fluid tight sealing means connecting the bellows to the piston and to the cabinet.
 4. The unit according to claim 1 including means for mounting the receptacle beneath and axially in line with the piston.
 5. The unit according to claim 4 including a door for said cabinet, said receptacle being mounted on said door.
 6. The unit according to claim 5 wherein said door is hinged to said cabinet to swing outwardly removing said can from said cabinet.
 7. The unit according to claim 5 wherein said door slides within said cabinet to expose said receptacle.
 8. The unit according to claim 5 including pressure relief means to control the force of said water within said bellows. 